TIGSource Forums

They are born in our dreams. They roam in our fantasies. They rampage in our books, movies or games. They stomp, they swallow whole victims and occasionaly shoot lasers out of one of their body parts. They are sometimes scaly, other times furry. They come in every shapes and have different motivations. But they have one thing in common. They make their victim cower in fear and awe because of that very trait. What they all share makes them extraordinary characters.

They are...


A viceral fantasy found in pretty much all entertainment, from the birth of human kind to the present day, giant monsters have populated our imaginations in thousands of ways. As humans, there are themes that we like to find in the story that entertain us. The living dead, such as zombies and vampires, shows our fascination with death and how we dream of defeating it face to face. Magic and spirits demonstrate how the world that science and rationality has yet explained captures our attention and feeds our imagination. As a human, one of our primal fears is to be face to face, or rather face to knee, to a creature that is enormous compared to us. Even meeting a fellow man that towers over us sparks a reminder that, as humans, we may have brains but we are nowhere as impressive as some of our other earthly counterparts. And of course, one of the best satisfaction one can get is to overcome an obstacle of incredible size. Giant monsters, may they be lizards, animals, insects or even oversized humans, always make terrifying foes or extremly satisfying characters to personate. And, quite personaly, I love enjoy them. :)

So, for this thread, I suggest that we post names of books, movies, games, tv shows or any thing that features or stars giant monsters that you find awesome. I'll start off with a few personal favorites of mine. I could mention some obvious, but I'll let you guys have some fun too ;)

---

Greek mythology monsters So yeah, it's not a monster in itself but I love how there are all kinds of giant monsters in this particular mythology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_pantheon) and related litterature, such as Homer's Odyssey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey). The Hydra, the colossus (http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/goya/goya.colossus.jpg) or even the gods themselves, have fascinated many individuals throughout the ages. I can't say I'm an expert on the topic and I don't really mind the accuracy of the use of the monsters, but games like God Of War  (http://www.godofwar.com/agegate.html) shows how much these giant monsters are still alive and well in our fantasies. Selling millions of copies around the globe, and spawning 3 major sequels, God of War stars Kratos, a Spartan warrior out to kill the god of war, Ares. During his quest, the white and red shredding machine literaly cuts through hordes of monsters, including mythology beasts like minotaurs, cyclops, harpies and more famously, the hydra.  Anyone who played the first hours of God of War can easily recall the Hydra scene and how one feels when defeating it. If you haven't played the game, I'm not gonna spoil you the experience, but let me assure you that this very scene makes the whole game. Plus it features a freakin' huge monster :)

(http://www.snapstream.com/images/community/hydra/Hydra.bmp) The hydra, one of greek mythology's giant monster.

---

King of the Monsters Derek mentioned this game in this thread (http://forums.tigsource.com/index.php?topic=7463.0) and it reminded me how much I enjoyed this game when I was a lad. The premise is very simple. You are a giant monster. You have to kill other giant monsters in cities. There you go. Giant monsters, city destruction and explosions. Lots of fun. I mostly played this game on the SNES since. I haven't been able to experience the original game at the arcade but it is said that the conversion to the Nintendo hardware was pretty good. Of course, nothing beats the original so I will give this a spin soon. In the meantime, here's a youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_azvaXJVVZk) of some SNES gameplay :)

(http://www.neo-geo.com/snk/screenshots/king%20of%20the%20monsters2.gif)

---

There are a lot of other obvious I decided not to mention since I want you guys to get in the discussion. Like the first pic of this thread for instance. ;)

So go ahead! Post your favorite giant monster related stuff! :) Anything Giant Monster related goes in here! :)

(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c241/LotRgamer07/Godzilla.jpg)

+

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/17109538_dd954a9033.jpg)

=

(http://www.roberthood.net/daikaiju-antho/contributors/images/mechagodzilla.jpg)

GAMERA IS A FRIEND TO THE CHILDREN.

(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4050/gamera1.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/gamera1.jpg/)

(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5061/gameram.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/gameram.jpg/)


(http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8651/gamerav.jpg) (http://img525.imageshack.us/i/gamerav.jpg/)

(http://www.cthulhulives.org/store/images/cocPoster.jpg)

Someone had to. *shrug*

(http://blog.beliefnet.com/moviemom/cloverfield-1-18-08-poster.jpg)

(http://www.wired.com/images/article/full/2008/04/mothra_godzilla_500px.jpg)

(http://files.getdropbox.com/u/423031/dino.png)

Gamera doing gymnastics and playing the invisible banjo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLcu9YaPXD8

Or Godzilla, or Gozira. But it's the giant monster you know and love. It's name comes from Gorira, or Gorilla, and Kujira, or Whale. When translated the ji syllable was mistaken to be zi. The double Ls are from the fact that L and R are indistinguishable in the Japanese language, so it was another translation mistake.
Coming from humble origins, it's first appearance was in, surprise, Godzilla. It was a destructive monster, wreaking havoc on Japan. The second film is where Godzilla's famous monster mash-up started, where he fought Anguirus. Godzilla remained a villain however, just now he fought another gigantic monstrosity. This continued for two more films, but in the fifth one, Ghidorah, the Three Headed Monster, he was moved into the heroic role. This has basically lasted to this day. Godzilla is known to play off fears, like nuclear testing, aliens, and pollution, to further important messages, or just to garner more fear.

The Heisei series contributed to about a fourth of all Godzilla movies, and took a small step to earlier times; it portrayed Godzilla, at best, as an Anti-Hero, and at worst, a flat out villain. He was made to be more intimidating, and hazardous to all of humanity, even if he did help stop other monsters.

This series more made statements then it did play off the topics of them. It gave a negative view to genetic research, communism, research into dangerous materials, and environmental stuff.


Continuing his role as a dangerous, unbridled force of nature, Godzilla marched on with 6 films in this series, the latest ones made. They didn't have as much statements, or fears, but they did have them, for instance a monster made form a black hole. They also didn't have any real continuity, returning to the roots once more.

This movie was terrible, one of the worst movie I saw in a cinema.
Instead I direct people toward this awesome korean movie which was possibly a source of inspiration for cloverfield

quoted for hotlink failure
and so i can watch this cool thread

Tra-la-la, let's be friends.

Hey, I've seen that movie. I thought it was pretty good. Wouldn't call the monster 'giant,' though, exactly.

(http://www.ffinsider.net/final-fantasy-4/sprites/boss/Zeromus2.gif)

(http://wherecouldtom.be/games/screens/crush.png)
:shrug2:

Also, I saw The Host and was confused more than anything else.

I was going to post Crush next. :(
(http://icrontic.com/images/prime/articles/psychonauts/psychonauts2.jpg)
Picture doubly related!

From Fantasia:

(http://uncivilsociety.org/demon.jpg)

(http://www.chernobogslair.com/Chernobog/ChernabogPinSetBig.jpg)

(http://kaiju.com/i/bio/cal.jpg) (http://kaiju.com/bios/cal_03.htm)
FORMER WORLD CHAMPION BABY!

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/macchiato5/trogdor.png)

Who didn't see this one coming?

I'd talk about Shadow of the Colossus, but it's been discussed to death everywhere, so I'll just post random screenshots of it:

(http://hadouken.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/79747_shadow_colossus1.jpg)

(http://estacaoligada.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/20060709023957-shadow-of-the-colossus-200509270253337952.jpg)

(http://www.clubdesmonstres.com/giantclaw02.gif)

(http://www.usul.net/fandom/marco/worm.jpg)

(http://www.blogs.uni-osnabrueck.de/studyskills/files/2009/06/gulliver1.jpg)

(http://www.onlineweblibrary.com/news/b.jpg)

(http://www.zeldawiki.org/images/f/fa/Twinmold.png)

One word: Hentai.

The isolation felt at the open seas. Surrounded by water that you can not drink and that drops deeper and deeper and deeper. The home of the Kraken.

(http://beatledude.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/kraken.jpg)

Wow, that's a really nice Kraken portrait.

(http://ui20.gamespot.com/2099/ridley_2.jpg)

(http://fc08.deviantart.com/fs15/i/2007/035/6/2/Teddy__s_Rescue_by_Rozefire.jpg)
(http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs16/i/2007/183/5/4/Batter_Up_by_tarrzan.jpg)

Woah, those portraits are cool! What are they from?

(http://www.metalsucks.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/mastodon_leviathan-expanded-album-cover.jpg)

(http://roberthood.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/moby_dick.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3422/3387502550_27655cb0cd.jpg)

The first one is from Rozefire (http://rozefire.deviantart.com/) and the second from tarrzan (http://tarrzan.deviantart.com/).

(http://fc00.deviantart.com/fs44/i/2009/160/2/b/Betrayal_ll_by_tarrzan.jpg)

(http://fc09.deviantart.com/fs11/i/2007/118/1/c/Cyclops_by_barontieri.jpg)
(http://fc02.deviantart.com/fs9/i/2006/034/e/0/Gaius_by_oh8.jpg)

You guys, you know, all most of these guys ever needed was a little love and acceptance.

(http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/flapjack/images/1/15/CammieFWH.jpg)

(http://www.gotyaoi.com/felix/art2/dark/Pyramid_Head_the_Executioner.jpeg)

Wow can't belive this wasn't linked yet!

(http://vinatran.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/wildthingsare-fl-01.jpg)

Pulgasari:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6OqNGbw8Ek&feature=related

North Korea's first and only giant monster movie.  Miniatures and Kaiju design by Toho, though, so you know it's legit!  Some of the worst rear-projection I have ever seen in a film, but actually a decently enjoyable movie - you know, considering. Has some cool music and a weird fable of plot that is subtle and layered compared to what you'd expect from a monster movie commissioned by Kim Jong-Il to glorify the DPRK and the glorious revolution. 
Plot:  A little monster sculpture made out of riceballs and mud by a craftsman dying in captivity is accidentally brought to live by the blood of his devoted daughter.  Then it gets a lot bigger and smashes a lot of stuff.

Background:

The director/producer was Shin Sang-Ok, an established South Korean director who was kidnapped (along with his actress ex-wife) by North Korean Intelligence by order of KJ-I  to make movies for him.  Pretty fucked up story, worth reading more about if you're interested.

You can watch the whole thing subtitled on Google video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4299325314122049461

Now you have something to do this weekend.

First post!

Lovecraft's polyps:

This thread is fun.
(http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs17/f/2007/192/e/f/Salamander_by_GraySapphire.jpg)

(http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-04/art/mmpu-yellow-devil.jpg)

Mega Man!

This is the best. It explains in an incredibly clear and uncomplicated way why I'm afraid of deep, dark waters.


He's the best!

(http://pub.gamingw.net/29169/langdell.jpg)

Eligor from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJAiGkrR5MM) is a pretty great giant monster.

(http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/genesis/ps4/images/Monsterpics/profounddarkness1.gif)

 :crazy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEmF7ZFvZa8

(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o214/ndk5027/other%20work/Oratoshead2a.gif)

I heartly approve of this thread necromancy. Because we all know that if there is necromancy involved, it better be using giant monsters! :handmetalL: :wizard:

Hotlinking from http://www.kotaku.com.au/2009/07/lets-compare-monster-hunter-monster-sizes/

(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:lRN1m56alyjoOM:http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/06/mhbig.jpg) (http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2009/06/mhbig.jpg)

Click image to EXPLODE TO 3000x752 goodness.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXYezdMEzI/AAAAAAAAAPs/zNT7Ac1S4U0/s400/enshen.jpg)

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXZJnTpsAI/AAAAAAAAARE/ZIeULxrNoV4/s1600/tyranno.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXZJT-MuZI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/al33jtXIIYw/s1600/sumiro.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXZIwmm3HI/AAAAAAAAAQk/-Q3i4PHWWHk/s400/inoshishi.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXYeBTAgyI/AAAAAAAAAPU/T9Gh-Kc9ZQg/s400/baro.jpg)

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXYMLMgNnI/AAAAAAAAAPM/C5Xnac27LXY/s400/baha.jpg)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_vZbFpa6k_9U/SeXYxXgAOPI/AAAAAAAAAP8/baEQG_UrD7M/s400/kirin.jpg)

The guy that makes these is clearly a God.

(http://www.blogcdn.com/news.bigdownload.com/media/2009/09/kabuto.jpg)
Kabuto



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtIVuCFc45A&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtIVuCFc45A&feature=player_embedded)
Godzilla's latest contender

I'd really like a link to this blog man. 

Also this whole thread makes me  :apoplectic:
                                                         :handshakeR:

(http://zeldaocarina.co.uk/zelda%20pics/ganon/ganon7.jpg)

and

(http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/content/images/stories/duke3d_boss.jpg)

http://crazy-ranga.blogspot.com/

(http://i35.tinypic.com/2s806kx.jpg)

(http://i36.tinypic.com/2pyb49f.jpg)

(http://www.sc2blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/starcraft_samwise038c.jpg)
omg ultralisk omg ultralisk omg ultralisk
(actually an omegalisk, but meh)

I see your giant squid and raise you one...

Colossal Squid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_Squid)